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Indonesia Biodiversity, traditional medicine and the sustainable use of indigenous medicinal plants in Indonesia Here is a site that you may find of interest, since some species of Cockatoos are from Indonesia. http://www.nuffic.nl/ciran/ikdm/7-3/erdelen.html Regards, Linda
Africa My Friend from S. Africa sent me the following information about what the local birds eat: Diana
Here are just a few things that I have observed them eating. Highly desired by the fruit eating birds
Psidium guajava (Myrtaceae) guava tree, . Contains Ellagic acid, a known intestinal astringent and haemostatic. Also has an antibacterial and antifungal property. Researchers are currently studying anti HIV properties.
Pawpaw (Asminia triloba) . The fruit has a laxative effect
Grape (Vitis vinifera) . Ripe fruit acts as a diuretic if fed in excess. Ripe grapes in quantity influence the kidneys producing a free flow of urine, and are a stimulant. The ripe fruit contains sugar, gum, malic acid, potassium bi-tartrate and inorganic salts.
Raisins contain dextrose and potassium acid tartrate. The seeds contain tannin. The unripe fruit contains malic, citric, racemic and tannic acids, potassium bi-tartrate, sulfate of potash and lime.
Fig (Ficus Carica) Use as a mild laxative and as a demulcent. The stalk of the ripe fruit is said to have antibiotic properties. They are highly alkaline, and contain a powerful healing agent, and are antifungal, anti-inflammatory, and contain a bactericide. Helps to sooth respiratory ailments, ease digestive complaints, and as a cancer preventive.
The Cape white-eye (zosorops pallidus) do tend to enjoy a small chili commonly known here as "devil chili" they are very small red chili peppers that are as hot as hell but are eaten with relish-----
(Capsicum) Pungent capsaicin serves as a digestive stimulant and stimulates circulation.
The Cape Canary will eat aphids off a weed known here as khaki bos this weed is used as a flea deterrent so my guess is that the birds are ingesting the aphids as some form of natural parasite control
Chickweed (Stellaria Media) Some debate has arisen over saponin content (a plant glycoside causing foaming) but it has long been used for birds to supply vitamin A
Couch grass/Wheat grass (Agropyron var. spp, in Africa Cynodon dactylon) Very valuable in disorders of kidney and bladder. Has a natural antibiotic effect against bacteria and moulds. It's a diuretic and relieves painful, scanty, frequent urination. This is the grass so commonly eaten by dogs when they are not well.
Doves and other seed eaters will eat earthworms ( small night crawlers)
On thing I have found is that most parrot type birds enjoy "playing" with hibiscus branches they will strip off the bark and chew the leaf stems plus the flowers are full of nectar, it is a safe plant and it gives them something to do. The blooms are enjoyed by a number of animals, tortoises, monkeys and birds plus one can buy herbal tea which contains it as one of the ingredients.
You will no doubt find they do derive some form of trace element from the bark or leaf stems. Denise
My friend from Africa wrote to me and in her letter she mentioned that the small birds in her country eat lantana berries. She said small birds like white-eyes. I'm not familiar with the bird she called white-eyes. Does anyone else know the name that we would be more familiar with?
Now the Lantana I do know. I had them when I lived in Florida and the birds did eat the berries or something did because they always got gone. I would sure like to know what is in the Lantana berry. Diana
The White Eyes, AKA Zosterops, are about the size of a warbler, and are related to a Sunbird. They have a white eye ring, hence the name. They are basically nectar eaters, and are in the softbill family. Here is a link with a picture. http://softbills.com/images/photo_e/mnt_whiteeye.jpg Regards, Linda
I have found this very true with my flock of cockatiels when I give them the Hibiscus flowers and cuttings of twigs and branches. The tiels relish the flowers...especially during the stress of our excessively hot summer. They will strip the bark from the branches and work it between their beak until every bit of moisture is gone. I have also had them do this with the stems of my areca Palm and ficus cuttings. All that is left is the fibers...which they will spend hours playing with. So the hibiscus and several other plants wind up not only being a source of nutrients, but also a play toy.
Ask your friend a question for me. I have noted that with my cockatiels they are *selective* on the parts of the leaves they will eat. If it is a shiny/glossy leaf they will only eat the stem and possibly a small amount of the center vein. On dull leaves they will eat all areas between the veins. All types of grasses, thin branches and twigs are worked between the beaks for the fluids only. Has she noted the same occurrences with the wild birds?
Susanne
Hi Denise, Someone from my Holistic bird list has a question for you concerning Hibiscus, so I forwarded it to you. Ask your friend a question for me. I have noted that with my cockatiels they are *selective* on the parts of the leaves they will eat.
If it is a shiny/glossy leaf they will only eat the stem and possibly a small amount of the center vein. On dull leaves they will eat all areas between the veins. All types of grasses, thin branches and twigs are worked between the beaks for the fluids only. Has she noted the same occurances with the wild birds?
The " fluids" that they are extracting out of grasses contain trace elements, and chlorophyll which the birds need, plus some have natural antibiotics and/or natural forms of diuretics, The leaves that you mention when the leaf is young the natural antibiotic and nutrients will be in the stem and veins to protect the growing leaf, when it is mature the highest amount would be in the " dull" parts that is to protect the leaf if it is chewed by insects, it will help the leaf heal without rot or disease setting in.
Hibiscus mainly contain insecticidal qualities and an anti-spasmodic, monkeys chew the base of the flower where there is the immature seed pod. The flowers do contain a large amount of nectar which is enjoyed by birds and animals. So you will no doubt find that the birds are self medicating by choosing the parts of the plant which have the highest amounts of the substance which they need. My parrots ignored the hibiscus branch for a couple of weeks and then the one shredded part of it in one day, it is possible he had indigestion and self medicated.
I have just started reading a book called " Of Men and Plants" by Maurice Messegue and in there he talks about Swallows picking a sprig of greater Celendine and taking it back to the nest to rub on the head of a nestling, this he claimed the bird did for some days until the nestling was able to open its eyes. It has been proved that animals do self medicate in the wild.
CAUTION: I have never used this on birds so please check and see if there has been anyone thats tried it, for all you know it might be safe but I have noo idea.
Calendula Officnalis----- it is an antiseptic and antifungal and it contains hormone and vitamin A precursors. Internally it treats stomach and inflamed lymph nodes and stimulates the liver Regards Denise
Australia
This came from a friend in Australia. Diana
Sent: Monday, June 26, 2000 9:45 PM Subject: Re:Healing Herbs for Birds
You've got me thinking because I've never thought much about birds. My house backs onto a creek (Bannister Creek) which flows into the Canning River and there's heaps and heaps of birds.
Off the top of my head, the plants which grow in the creek are watercress and arum lilies (I don't lilies are not a herb) and water lilies. The trees which they forage amongst are eucalypts and paperbark (melaleuca). I have about half a dozen huge bottle brush (calistemon) and they feed from these all day. I have a friend who's into birds and I could contact the Bannister Creek volunteer group, who would know a lot more than me. Some of the birds we have here are magpies, willy wagtail, honeyeaters, silver eye, crow, mopoke, heron, ducks, crane, parrots - twenty eight, rosella and pink and grey galahs, as well as the black cockatoo.
There are many hundreds of herbs that were used by the Aboriginal people. As Australia is such a large country varying from desert to rain forest (with different birds found in different climates) it would be a monumental task to research herbs that grow in the areas the various birds are found. Added to that Aboriginal knowledge is handed down verbally from one generation to the next and sadly I think as many Aboriginal people are assimilated into white society the old traditional knowledge is becoming lost (especially in the more densely populated areas of the country).
Finally, I have been unable to find information on dosages for most Australian herbs, therefore it is hard to figure out what may be safe and what may not. However, the good news is that there is a wonderful book called "Australian Medicinal Plants" written by E.V. Lassak & T.McCarthy (published by Methuen) ISBN 0 454 00438 9 . The book is 240 pp and describes each medicinal plant by: botanical name; common names; description; habitat and distribution; medicinal uses. I don't know if the book is still in print, but for anyone interested in Australian medicinal plants, this is a very good book. Technical expertise for the book comes from Erich Lassak, a Senior Research Scientist with the NSW Department of Agriculture (probably now retired) who for many years studies the chemical constituents of Australian native plants, while Tara McCarthy is a journalist with a particular interest in the people, flora and fauna of Australia.
Another very interesting book is: "BUSH FOOD - Aboriginal Food and Herbal Medicine" written by Jennifer Isaacs (published by Weldons), 256 pp. ISBN 0 949708 33 X. This book is beautifully illustrated - giving a real insight into the traditional Aboriginal way of life.
Because so little is known about safe dosages of Australian herbs I use very few Australian native medicinal plants (remember Australia was only settled by white man a little over 200 years ago!!). However, I do use the Australian Bushflower Essences (as opposed to the Bach flower remedies) as I believe the plants that grow here are more appropriate for the needs of the people and animals that live here.
I believe Australian native medicinal herbs have a huge potential for research and commercial production. One day, someone with lots of money to invest will realize this!
Sorry I can't be more helpful, but hopefully anyone who is especially interested in Australian medicinal plants may be able to track down one of these books.
Carole Bryant,
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